GPS stolen, time to decide on new one...

[Wolfhound]

I bought one of those thumbscrews from the same guy & it sure made life easier . . .

 

[6mmbr]

hey fjrchick, you gotta lick it first then it sticks up there good!

 

[fjrchik]

hey fjrchick, you gotta lick it first then it sticks up there good!

good one 6mmbr. can't wait to see all the comments that follow that one! here, just for u:

 

[05fjrBluedevil]

I have the zummo and although a first I did not like it for the price, costco...I bought from them because of there hassle free return if I decided it was not for me.

I was going to take it back, but have had it for 5 months and am liking it more everytime I use, it took me four months to get the auto mount out and use it first few times it fell, but has been rock solid since, I like the easy mounting it provides, I have the safty set screw and am abls to undo it with my index finger or thumb, just have to press down harder to get it to work. I do not leave it mounted when I am not in the vehicle or on the bike it is removed and carried with me. period I do not want anyone enjoying it at my expense...

I have found the speaker for auto to be lacking in volume though, I like the go home button and the recently found places where to. I like having my estimated time to work on the screen. That way i know whether to call and let them know my eta if needed.

I have not used it much for routing purposes, but more as an electronic map. I really like when we are going to a new location and plugging in the address and having it route me there, then the quick find gas or atm etc and the continued route to location going and getting me back on track quickly.

I will play more with it this year and like the auto adjusting screen but prefer night look and leave it there moreoften then not.

I think you can not go wrong with the unit as it is mc ready...I have an mp3 player and no need for the xm and the added cost of such...

a few gigs of tunes and you are set, I will say that the weather alerts on screen of a few on the forum that I have seen posted would be nice to have maybe the zummo can do this maybe not, I have not really researched this... but for ld rides that would be a benefit to get rain gear on prior to finding it....

Hope this helps Mike

 

[HaulinAshe]

Yep, that donut thingy sticks better than... Hmmmmm, just can't clean that one up. It sticks!

My car mount sucker cup thingy generates better suction than a... damn, can't clean that one up either!

FJRchik, if your car mount sucker is NOT sticking, it has to be because there is something defective or possibly some unwelcomed lubricating matter on it. If clean and free of foreign matter, you can pull the windshield right outta the car with it.

 

[Jazzzzz]

Garmin continues to put less into the box and charge crazy high prices. I also agree with Jeff about the start up view. Of course I wanna see a map!
I guess its not helping my attitude right now that I just bought an iphone. For half of garmin's retail price of the zumo, I'm getting one helluva machine with awesome graphics.

For the cost of a Zumo you can get a touchscreen smartphone with built-in GPS that will run Garmin Mobile XT, TomTom and other mapping solutions. In addition it will play MP3s, provide high-speed internet access if you have a data plan, and all of the other functionality you'd expect from a PDA phone. The Zumo will have a slightly bigger screen and bigger buttons, XM radio and traffic, and that's about it.

Then again, the phone most likely isn't waterproof and the screen will be small enough that it could be an issue to see it, let alone navigate around it with gloved hands. I'm going this route because I'll get more use out of the smartphone than I would a Zumo, since it's useful when I'm not on the bike or in the car.

I played around with a Zumo, a 2820, and a 376c (I think) at a vendor booth at recent CycleWorld show. The Zumo and 2820 did not impress me in the slightest.

 

[twowheelnut]

hey fjrchick, you gotta lick it first then it sticks up there good!

good one 6mmbr. can't wait to see all the comments that follow that one! here, just for u:

Just buy a car with a built-in navi. That's what I did and no licking required!

 

[dcarver]

I've been very happy with my zumo. Waterproof, rugged, it's already taken several hard hits and still works great. I use a StarComm remote volume control. The bluetooth to my Motorola razr phone works perfect. The car mount works good too - even when bluetoothing the phone through it.

Only slight problem I had was the rubber flap thingie that covers the contact pad deteriorated - garmin replaced it for free.

 

[bramfrank]

1. Zumo 550 comes with car and bike mounts. The 450 only includes the bike mount and is missing a number of features as well.

2. I have had a lot of GPS units. Zumo is NOT my favourite - the 276c series is. Nothing in the various other series beats the display quality or resolution and configurablility of the 276c. Want full North American mapping on board? Buy the 478. It supports XM & Weather with 'the pod', the 376c includes the pod in the price. The higher numbered ones do not.

Zumo locks up regularly and the battery has to be removed to get it going again - I'm on my 4th one.

Search the forum for links to my reviews on epinions - or just go to epinions and look for my reviews for more details.

 

[rayban]

FJRchick,

I got an iPhone last July. While it's great, it sucks balls while on the bike for two reasons...

1. I wear gloves usually, and the screen usually will not respond to the touch of a gloved hand, it requires the electrical resistance of your skin to operate the screen. I have one pair of gloves that evidently has enough whatever in the leather to do it, but my favorite pair does not.

2. I agree about the bean bag. I never windshield-mount anyway, I will have to get a beanbag base and/or permanently mount it to the dash. Suction cups don't work long term in vehicles in areas where temps fluctuate greatly (which is most of the US).

Anyway, we're investigating (meaning I'm waiting on a call back from my agent) filing this as a renter's insurance claim because it technically took place at my apartment (complex). Not sure if it will fly or not.

To be honest, I use the GPS on the bike primarily for 2 things:

1- group ride routing and/or rally participation (traditional destination/waypoint/route use)

2- find a nearby gas station when I get low, and similar "show me what is nearby" kind of scenarios (food, lodging, nearest casino, etc). There have been 2 different times where I have totally zoned out on enjoying the ride and/or the tunes and fogotten to look down at the dash for a long time, only to eventually find a blinking fuel indicator and see 15 or so miles already gone on the reserve. Without the "find the nearest gas" feature that pointed me to one just a half mile away but unmarked from the interstate, I would have been a SCREWED DUDE as the next one ahead turned out to be 20 miles ahead.

As for XM Weather and traffic...I give it a B- to C+

- the traffic part is okay, IF you're in an area that reports traffic to the related network. I find the delay in reporting to be pretty big. Traffic areas are sometimes clear by the time you get to them despite being reported as slowed still. Translation, only count on this feature in larger metro cities, obviously. The re-route has done okay, but it often takes the jam area too literally. For example, if traffic ahead is stopped because a 1/2 mile stretch of road is blocked for a semi wreck, don't be dumb enough to tell me to try taking the road right next to the blocked area, it's going to be CLOGGED with the very traffic I'm supposedly trying to avoid. It should route me well-away from the congested area. Good idea, dumb execution.

- the weather part is GREAT for long hauls, even out in the middle of nowhere. I was dodging heavy rainstorms in the middle of the night on a run that would probably have counted as a bun burner (or at least training for it). The weather map was easy to manipulate while riding and had all the basic data for an area I'd want. There also was good coverage even in rural areas since there are a lot more weather reporting data centers in our great country thanks to the aviation industry. The few times I had pop-up weather warnings, they were usually flash flood or similar stuff that didn't particularly concern me, but I did pay heed to a tornado warning one time in Iowa and decided it was close enough to the already-planned end of the ride to call it a night, so I punched up the nearest hotel of my desired level of service and away I went...

Oh, as for bluetooth, I have the 2820's ability to take calls and the Autocomm's clarity both to credit for getting the job I have. I got the call where they had to phone interview me immediately if I wanted the job because of delays on their end and the position closing blah blah. Had I not gotten the call on the bike and pulled over to talk further, I would have missed the call until it was supposedly too late. Trivial but true story...

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Rayban,

All personal items whether ON or OFF premises is covered by your Renters or Homeowner's insurance.

Good Luck on your claim... hopefully the deductable won't be too high.

 

[Lake Powell]

I fully agree with what has been said about the Zumo, that being said i havn't used it in my car or used the car mount.

It's not perfect but it is close. I like my Iphone too but not being a Mac user made things more difficult.

 

[Fred W]

Thanks for the link Niehart. I may have to go that route if I can't get it worked out in the car. I'll see what I can do about getting it to stick and stay put. If its working for others like Jocko, then its prolly just installer error. I see there's a disk for the dashboard too. Anyone having any luck with that?

Assuming it is the same or similar to the dashboard disk for the Streetpilot C550, yes, the disk is the way to go, so long as you realize that once you stick it there, the disk is permanently mounted. I much prefer the disk to the windshield as that gets the GPS down out of my field of view of the road ahead. It only blocks my view of the hood there.

I do like to keep the screen up high as possible so that I don't have to look down at all, can still see what's happening up ahead in my peripheral vision. I recommend finding the best spot for the disk and then stick with it (bad pun intended).

 

[Ronf]

Have you seen or considered the tomtom rider 2nd addition?

 

[fjrchik]

FJRchick,
I got an iPhone last July. While it's great, it sucks balls while on the bike for two reasons...

1. I wear gloves usually, and the screen usually will not respond to the touch of a gloved hand, it requires the electrical resistance of your skin to operate the screen. I have one pair of gloves that evidently has enough whatever in the leather to do it, but my favorite pair does not.

I would completely agree. I don't have any intention of using this extremely expensive, uninsured phone on the bike. I was just talking dollar to dollar spent comparison.

2. I agree about the bean bag. I never windshield-mount anyway, I will have to get a beanbag base and/or permanently mount it to the dash. Suction cups don't work long term in vehicles in areas where temps fluctuate greatly (which is most of the US).

I think this was the problem for me. Even my radar detector has been falling off lately as the windshield warms up from the heater. There was probably also some condensation too. The link Niehart gave comes up with a combo that gets installed beside my stereo, not on the vents. I don't think that's what I'm looking for either. I'm guessing the Zumo will live on the bike and I'll use my iphone for mapping in the car.

2- find a nearby gas station when I get low, and similar "show me what is nearby" kind of scenarios (food, lodging, nearest casino, etc). There have been 2 different times where I have totally zoned out on enjoying the ride and/or the tunes and fogotten to look down at the dash for a long time, only to eventually find a blinking fuel indicator and see 15 or so miles already gone on the reserve. Without the "find the nearest gas" feature that pointed me to one just a half mile away but unmarked from the interstate, I would have been a SCREWED DUDE as the next one ahead turned out to be 20 miles ahead.

I am looking forward to this feature alot!

As for XM Weather and traffic...I give it a B- to C+
- the traffic part is okay, IF you're in an area that reports traffic to the related network. I find the delay in reporting to be pretty big. Traffic areas are sometimes clear by the time you get to them despite being reported as slowed still. Translation, only count on this feature in larger metro cities, obviously. The re-route has done okay, but it often takes the jam area too literally. For example, if traffic ahead is stopped because a 1/2 mile stretch of road is blocked for a semi wreck, don't be dumb enough to tell me to try taking the road right next to the blocked area, it's going to be CLOGGED with the very traffic I'm supposedly trying to avoid. It should route me well-away from the congested area. Good idea, dumb execution.

Dude, I know this one! I have XM in the car and more often then not, they aren't reporting anything I'm seeing on the road. At least here in DFW, I find XM traffic to be worthless about 75% of the time. And that jam factor report is just ********.

- the weather part is GREAT for long hauls, even out in the middle of nowhere. I was dodging heavy rainstorms in the middle of the night on a run that would probably have counted as a bun burner (or at least training for it). The weather map was easy to manipulate while riding and had all the basic data for an area I'd want. There also was good coverage even in rural areas since there are a lot more weather reporting data centers in our great country thanks to the aviation industry. The few times I had pop-up weather warnings, they were usually flash flood or similar stuff that didn't particularly concern me, but I did pay heed to a tornado warning one time in Iowa and decided it was close enough to the already-planned end of the ride to call it a night, so I punched up the nearest hotel of my desired level of service and away I went...

Also looking forward to testing this out on my vacations this year!

Oh, as for bluetooth, I have the 2820's ability to take calls and the Autocomm's clarity both to credit for getting the job I have. I got the call where they had to phone interview me immediately if I wanted the job because of delays on their end and the position closing blah blah. Had I not gotten the call on the bike and pulled over to talk further, I would have missed the call until it was supposedly too late. Trivial but true story...

Yep, chik is gonna have a cel phone with her on the bike! :blink: you guys better watch out now! :lol:

 

[road runner]

I've had my Zumo for all of 5 minutes now (since yesterday) and I'm disappointed with a coupla things.
1. That car mount it comes with is worthless. Fell off my windshield twice within 3 minutes of putting it up. And I don't want it on the windshield anyways. Where's the nice bean bag holder for the dash that my Streetpilot 3 had? Lemme guess, I get to buy that separately!

Mine holds so good it is hard to get it off the windsheild after it's released, unless I pull the tab on the rubber cup to brake the suction. I think it comes with a protective cover on the cup.Did you remove it ?

A.C.

 

[fjrchik]

I've had my Zumo for all of 5 minutes now (since yesterday) and I'm disappointed with a coupla things.
1. That car mount it comes with is worthless. Fell off my windshield twice within 3 minutes of putting it up. And I don't want it on the windshield anyways. Where's the nice bean bag holder for the dash that my Streetpilot 3 had? Lemme guess, I get to buy that separately!

Mine holds so good it is hard to get it off the windsheild after it's released, unless I pull the tab on the rubber cup to brake the suction. I think it comes with a protective cover on the cup.Did you remove it ?

A.C.

yep sure did. like i said in previous post, i think the weather and temperature had some help in its failure. I'll be trying again.

 

[Fred W]

I've had my Zumo for all of 5 minutes now (since yesterday) and I'm disappointed with a coupla things.
1. That car mount it comes with is worthless. Fell off my windshield twice within 3 minutes of putting it up. And I don't want it on the windshield anyways. Where's the nice bean bag holder for the dash that my Streetpilot 3 had? Lemme guess, I get to buy that separately!

Mine holds so good it is hard to get it off the windsheild after it's released, unless I pull the tab on the rubber cup to brake the suction. I think it comes with a protective cover on the cup.Did you remove it ?

A.C.

yep sure did. like i said in previous post, i think the weather and temperature had some help in its failure. I'll be trying again.

One more thought about GPS mounting in cars. The reason for the suction cup type mounts is so that you can easily remove them when you leave the car. Any time you park, even for a few minutes, a GPS left out in the open is a an invitation to the local miscreants, similar to the story that started this thread, although his was down on the floor. You want to try to remove all evidence that a GPS was recently mounted.

 

[daddysbike]

The Zumo is the my first GPS and I'm happy with it.

Its waterproof, I ride in the rain alot.

The display buttons are larger when its mounted to the bike so you can use with your gloves on.

I've had no issues with mine, it works like it should.

Goes from car to bike quickly.

I'd buy another.

Steve